Photo Credit: Matt Zuro
ROSEMONT, IL – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (32-27) defeated the Chicago Dogs 14-7 at Impact Field Thursday evening to take two-out-of-three games from top team in the East Division.
The Goldeyes jumped out to a 1-0 lead just two batters into the ballgame when Ian Sagdal singled to centre field to drive in Eric Rivera .
Winnipeg added a run in the second on Reggie Pruitt Jr. ’s home run to left field. For Pruitt – whose previous career high was three – it was his ninth long ball of the season.
Chicago (39-20) cut the Goldeyes’ lead to one in the bottom of the third inning when Harrison Smith homered to left field making the score 2-1.
Winnipeg went up 5-1 in the top of the fourth inning. First Justin Thompson doubled down the left field line to bring home David Washington . The next batter, Deon Stafford Jr. , also doubled into the left field corner to bring in Pruitt and Thompson.
The Dogs got one of those runs back in their half of the inning on a Trent Bauer single to left that scored Grant Kay.
The Goldeyes went up 7-2 in the fifth inning when Washington hit a towering home run over the batter’s eye in centre field. It was the former Major Leaguer’s 18th of the season and 200th of his career.
Once again, Chicago responded in the bottom of the inning as Ryan Lidge and K.C. Hobson came home on Kay’s single to centre field to make the score Winnipeg 7 Dogs 4.
The visitors added three more runs in the top of the sixth when Raul Navarro doubled down the left field line scoring Thompson and Rivera. Navarro then came home on Max Murphy ’s two-bagger to left-centre field one batter later to give the Goldeyes a 10-4 lead.
Smith hit his second home run of the game in the home sixth – another solo shot to left – to reduce Winnipeg’s lead to 10-5.
Pruitt and Thompson both scampered home on wild pitches in the seventh inning before Stafford scored on Rivera’s single to right-centre field to extend the Goldeyes’ lead to 13-5.
Stafford brought Logan Hill in to score Winnipeg’s 14th and final run with a single to left field in the top of the eighth.
In the bottom of the inning, Smith – who had three home runs on the season coming into the game – hit his third of the contest, yet another solo blast to left field. That made the score Goldeyes 14 Dogs 6.
Kay lifted a sacrifice fly to left in the bottom of the ninth to bring in Hobson and round out the scoring.
Every Goldeyes player had at least one hit in the game, with Rivera and Sagdal recording three apiece. Stafford led the way with three RBIs.
Winnipeg starter Alex Manasa (3-3) evened his record on the year with the win, going five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking three.
Zac Ryan , Travis Seabrooke , Bryan Blanton , and Tasker Strobel all appeared in relief for the Goldeyes.
Shane Barringer (4-5) was charged with the loss for Chicago. He lasted just three-and-one-third innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. Barringer was followed by six Dogs relievers.
Following the game, the Goldeyes made the short drive southeast along the shores of Lake Michigan to Gary, Indiana where they will begin a three-game weekend series with the Gary SouthShore RailCats Friday at 6:45 p.m. Luis Ramirez (6-3, 4.35) will start for Winnipeg. The RailCats have not announced their rotation for the series. All the action can be heard locally on CJNU 93.7 FM and worldwide at cjnu.ca.
The Goldeyes return home to Shaw Park Tuesday, July 26 against Chicago.
For information on Winnipeg Goldeyes’ 2022 season tickets, group outings, and 10-game mini packs, visit the Goldeyes’ official website at Goldeyes.com.
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Blue Cross Park is located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
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